ETF head-to-headweekly closes, dividends reinvesteddata through Sep 2026

AGAGGvsBNBND

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF  /  Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

Near-identical rides: over the past five years, $10,000 became $9,789 in AGG and $9,781 in BND. What separates them is cost and structure, not performance.

growth of $10,000Sep 2021Sep 2026
as of Sep 2026AGG $9,789BND $9,781
01At a glance

What five years of weekly data say

at a glance4 findings
  • AGG returned −0.4% a year and BND −0.4% a year over the past five years, dividends reinvested.
  • Both swung about as much: 6% annual volatility, with worst falls of −17% and −17%.
  • Near twins (correlation 1.00). They rise and fall in lockstep, so holding both adds almost no diversification.
  • AGG pays more income: a 4.05% yield, against 4.04% for BND.
02Head to head

The numbers side by side

head to head11 lines
AGG and BND compared on price, size, returns, risk and cost
MetricAGAGGBNBND
Price$95.96$71.20
Fund size$138.32B$398.83B
1-year return−0.4% (ahead)−0.5%
3-year return, a year+4.2%+4.2%
5-year return, a year−0.4%−0.4%
Volatility, a year6%6%
Worst drawdown−17%−17%
Worst week−2.4%Apr 2025−2.4%Apr 2025
Beta0.990.98
Dividend yield4.05%4.04%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
marks the side ahead on lines with a direction: higher return, lower volatility, shallower fall, lower fee
03Together

Do AGG and BND move together?

correlationnear twins
1.00Near twins: they rise and fall in lockstep, so holding both adds almost no diversification.

Correlation compares AGG’s and BND’s weekly returns from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.

Pearson correlation of weekly returns|+1 always together, 0 unrelated, −1 always opposite
04Drawdowns

How far each one fell

drawdownsbelow each one’s previous high
as of Sep 2026AGG −3.1%BND −3.0%

AGG

−17%

From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Feb 2026.

BND

−17%

From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Feb 2026.

Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested

05Questions

AGG vs BND: what people ask

questions6 answered

Is AGG better than BND?

Over the past five years, AGG delivered the higher return: −0.4% a year against −0.4% for BND, dividends reinvested. Both fell about as far at their worst (−17% and −17%). Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.

What is the difference between AGG and BND?

AGG is iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF, a fund with $138.32B in assets. BND is Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, a fund with $398.83B in assets. AGG charges 0.03% a year and BND 0.03%.

Should I own both AGG and BND?

Their weekly returns had a correlation of 1.00 over the past five years. They rise and fall in lockstep, so holding both adds almost no diversification. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.

Which is riskier, AGG or BND?

AGG swung more: 6% annual volatility against 6% for BND. At their worst, AGG fell 17% and BND 17% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 0.99 and 0.98.

Which pays a higher dividend, AGG or BND?

AGG currently yields 4.05%, against 4.04% for BND. Yields move with price, so a higher yield can also mean a falling price.

Which is cheaper to hold, AGG or BND?

Both charge 0.03% a year, so cost doesn’t separate them.

Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh hourly. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.